The fresh air of the desert beckons especially now after weeks of smoky air from October’s fires, but many horse campers and trail riding enthusiasts say that any time is a great time to take a vacation at Stagecoach Trails RV Resort. Located in Shelter Valley, 16 miles southeast from San Diego County’s Julian, the Resort is truly that: a resort for horses and their humans who enjoy quiet, comfortable camping and long trail rides full of wildlife and gorgeous desert scenery.
Stagecoach has 70 horse corrals and two round pens. It sits next to 600,000 acres of the Anza Borrego Desert State Park, where the opportunities to ride are limited only by a rider’s tolerance for long hours in the saddle. It is loaded with every camping amenity and convenience, but Robert Crofts, who owns and runs the campground with his wife Michele, says the facility’s best attribute is its status as a safe, good-old-fashioned campground. “We’re clean cut and we have rules and regulations,” says Robert. “We attract the kind of people that like that.”
Stagecoach is a favorite of veteran backcountry rider and California Riding Magazine columnist Garry McClintock. Reporting after spending a Thanksgiving weekend there in 2005, Garry raved about both the facilities and abundant opportunities to explore trails of scenic and historic significance. “Robert and Michele are horsemen themselves and have built a solid reputation for equipping their camp so that guests and their equines have a safe, pleasant and fun stay at the resort,” Garry wrote.
During their three-day stay, Garry and his group did not exhaust all the trail possibilities. They found favorites in rides to Plum and Grapevine canyons. Most of the trails were hard-packed roads that became rocky as they rose in elevation, where clear skies and beautiful distant vistas beyond Julian were highlights. He recommended four- to five-hour rides to really get an experience of the desert’s diversity.
Along with the 70 corrals, Stagecoach has 285 full RV hook-ups, rental units, a tent area and plentiful and clean bathrooms. Two clubhouses make it an ideal spot for big group trips, and a country store makes roughing it considerably less rough, as do the heated pool, movie rentals, horseshoe pits and shuffleboard court.
Veteran horse campers are well aware of Stagecoach’s appeal and reservations are recommended any time of year. Robert notes that the facility is also great for horseowners who are new to camping with their horses. “It’s the best place for learning how to do this because it has everything you could want, including maps, and because we can tell you how to do everything.”
Visitors come from throughout Southern California and well beyond, reports Robert. He encourages newcomers to call ahead and ask for the best driving directions. The Crofts are proud and excited to run what Robert describes as one of the few remaining original horse camps in California. “It’s a nice, serene, clean and quiet place,” Robert concludes. In the 11 years he and Michele have owned Stagecoach, approximately 90 percent of their customers are return visitors, a great testament to the facility’s appeal.
For more information on Stagecoach Trails RV Resort, please call the Crofts at 760-765-2187 or visit their photo-laden website at www.stagecoachtrails.com.